Dragging Mason County
Description
"A timely tale of friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of proper contouring."—Kevin Christopher Snipes, author of Milo and Marcos at the End of the World
A laugh-out-loud YA debut that examines the realities of small-town queer life and celebrates the transformative power of drag—perfect for fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Pumpkin.
Peter Thompkin needs a public image overhaul. After a tense confrontation with one of the few other queer kids in his small-town high school, rumors about him are becoming more elaborate by the day. Meanwhile, his best friend Alan (aka teen drag queen Aggie Culture) is throwing Mason County’s debut Drag Extravaganza. Although Peter is a self-described “dragnostic,” he decides to help produce the show, hoping to prove that he isn’t a self-hating gay. In the process, he finds himself facing down angry guard dogs, angrier bigots, and a very high-strung church lady. As backlash grows, Peter begins to wonder whether he's setting fire to his already damaged reputation and if his friendship with Alan will survive past curtain call.
At turns touching, sharply funny, and a little absurd, Dragging Mason County explores the pains and pleasures of queer community through one teen’s journey to self-acceptance.
Awards
- Nominated, White Pine Award, OLA 2023
- Joint winner, Best Bets, Top Ten, OLA 2023
- Short-listed, The Publishing Triangle Award 2024
Reviews
With biting humor and big personalities, Dragging Mason County serves up enough memorable one-liners to fill an entire season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But at its shiny, sequin-loving heart, there’s an emotionally tender story about learning how to fully accept who you are . . . and celebrate it as well.
- Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country
A book filled with big heels, big laughs, and a big heart. Dragging Mason County reminds us about the importance of community, the need for visibility—regardless of where you live—and the courage it takes to be yourself.
- Brian Francis, author of Fruit
Painfully relatable and bitingly funny, Dragging Mason County is a timely tale of friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of proper contouring.
- Kevin Christopher Snipes, author of Milo and Marcos at the End of the World
Fast, witty, and full of heart, Dragging Mason County is an unflinching reflection of the prickly realities of small-town queer adolescence. Come for the snappy dialogue and an acerbic wit so cutting it’s almost lethal—stay for the surprisingly complex and tender heart underneath.”
- Alexandra Mae Jones, author of The Queen of Junk Island
“A sharp and startlingly timely story about drag's ability to transform not just a person, but a community.”
- Anthony Oliveira, GLAAD Media Award–winning author
“Dragging Mason County is like a good drag show: fun, messy, celebratory, and over much too soon. Peter and the queens of The House of Rural Realness show us how much a positive queer space means to people, especially young people.”
- Dani Jansen, author of The Year Shakespeare Ruined My Life
“Dragging Mason County feels like the teenage love child of David Sedaris and John Waters. In hero Peter Thompkin, Curtis Campbell has created a wholly singular yet deeply familiar character whose coming-of-age journey takes us through a crackling seen-it-all wit into the tenderness of self-discovery where we are reminded that feeling more can help us need less. Smart, funny, relevant, and ultimately touching. A delightful debut.”
- Daniel MacIvor, award-winning playwright and performer
“Dragging Mason County is a timely book about a small town grappling with its humanity. This gem of a novel is chock-full of humor, heart, and hair spray. Campbell has given us characters who, if given a chance, could definitely rule the world. A worthy and important debut.”
- Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock, author of Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town
“I loved Peter’s personal journey of self-discovery, navigating the challenges of prejudice and intolerance while producing the gaggiest drag show his county has ever seen. Dragging Mason County is an empowering young adult novel that celebrates the vibrant spirit of queer individuals, advocacy in a digital age, and the transformative magic of drag.”
- Bombae, from Canada’s Drag Race
“Hold on to your wigs! Dragging Mason County serves a hilarious, heartwarming story of acceptance and bravery, all while boasting a sickening cast of characters with charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to spare.”
- Erik J. Brown, author of Lose You to Find Me and All That’s Left in the World
“A hilarious romp through small-town drag. The 'face' of this book is all sequins and glitter, but behind the shiny exterior is a story about messy, fraught friendship and self-discovery.”
- Tanya Boteju, author of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens
“Showcasing a friendship that withstands hardship and disagreements, DRAGGING MASON COUNTY is a comedic novel in which queer teenagers butt against small minds, but still put on a heartwarming, showstopping display of selfdiscovery.”
- Foreword Reviews, September/October 2023
“A book filled with big heels, big laughs, and a big heart. Dragging Mason County reminds us about the importance of community, the need for visibility—regardless of where you live—and the courage it takes to be yourself.” —
- Brian Francis, author of Fruit
“Literally every single page is overflowing with hilariously sharp, sassy, and shocking prose—making the amount of times I found myself giggling like a lunatic, screaming ‘Oh my GOD’ impossible to count. Not to mention THE funniest chapter titles in any book ever. Make Dragging Mason County part of your self-care routine.” —
- Mark Samual Bonanno, writer and performer of Aunty Donna
“Painfully relatable and bitingly funny, Dragging Mason County is a timely tale of friendship, self-acceptance, and the importance of proper contouring.” —
- Kevin Christopher Snipes, author of Milo and Marcos at the End of the World
“With biting humor and big personalities, Dragging Mason County serves up enough memorable one-liners to fill an entire season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But at its shiny, sequin-loving heart, there’s an emotionally tender story about learning how to fully accept who you are . . . and celebrate it as well.” —
- Brian D. Kennedy, author of A Little Bit Country
“I loved Peter’s personal journey of self-discovery, navigating the challenges of prejudice and intolerance while producing the gaggiest drag show his county has ever seen. Dragging Mason County is an empowering young adult novel that celebrates the vibrant spirit of queer individuals, advocacy in a digital age, and the transformative magic of drag.”
- Bombae, from Canada’s Drag Race
“Hold on to your wigs! Dragging Mason County serves a hilarious, heartwarming story of acceptance and bravery, all while boasting a sickening cast of characters with charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to spare.” —
- Erik J. Brown, author of Lose You to Find Me and All That's Left in the World
“In taking a microscope to issues such as allyship, anti-fatness, anxiety, insecurity, and internalized homophobia, debut author Campbell presents an impassioned homage to queer community and culture that proffers clever and laugh-out-loud explorations of self-expression and acceptance.”
- Publishers Weekly, *starred review, 08/17/23
“The verbal swordplay from the drag queens plus the generally cutting remarks from the other high schoolers give the novel an edge; many of the characters’ defenses will feel relatable for some readers . . . Fabulously acerbic.”
- Kirkus Reviews, 07/29/23
“[Campbell] utilizes large doses of humor without pulling any punches in order to shine a light on issues many LGBTQ+ teens face today. Fans of Julie Murphy’s Pumpkin (2021) will delight in this candid and campy account of teenage angst.”
- Booklist, 10/12/23
“[A] witty and charming young adult novel that encourages learning to be kinder to oneself and others . . . the themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and forgiveness are essential ones for teens, and the novel does a beautiful job of weaving together the stories of characters doing the best they can.”
- Quill & Quire, *starred review, 11/23